Not buying anytime soon

[mkincaid]

I took a little time this evening to get a real sense of housing prices where I live in comparison to where my friends and family live and how that all relates to my income. I'm not really itching to buy right now, but I know it's something I should start planning for

Comments

[derekbbell]

Or alternatively, find a successful single woman that will take you in as her boy-toy.

[mkincaid]

don't think it hasn't crossed my mind

[zombie_hime]

If it makes you feel any better, I don't think I could afford to buy anything more than a shack around here, either, and it would probably end up being in West Virginia or farther out. Hence, I rent. But this is an area that has interesting jobs at good salaries, and I don't think I'd be happy in Pittsburgh or other places where I might be able to afford property, so it's all a balancing act. While renting may be kinda like throwing my money into a hole, I can still afford to live comfortably and put money away into savings, so I figure I can wait a while on the owning property thing.

[mkincaid]

You make a good point. Renting some place that makes you happy is worth far more than owning some place that doesn't. I imagine a number of us will be renting until we can pull together a two income household.

[piratechan]

And, renting is good for as long as you aren't sure where you want to be. Buying and selling property is time consuming and stressful, so you don't want to do it too often.

[mkincaid]

Quite true. The big thing on my mind lately is that I'm tired of feeling like a nomad. I've been moving back and forth across the country for 23 years and I ready to stop, just not in NJ.

[drfell]

I long ago came to terms with the fact that I will never make enough to buy a house in this area. Ever.

With a huge mortgage and a second income, I may be able to manage something small, a good distance out. Even that's getting to be more and more of a stretch.

However, there's a lot more to having a good life somewhere than "owning" a chunk of the land. I'd much *much* rather live in a city where I can afford a cardboard box, but is exciting, educational and entertaining than in a place where I can own a mansion, but there's no compelling reason to be there.

[mrsuberfluffy]

I am very proud to say that Devin and I finally own a house together. However, this would not have been possible if: 1)we had not saved most of my salary for the past two years 2) our having two incomes 3)compromising on a nice older home in a farther out location than Fairfax 4) Having parents who helped us out a little bit and 5) knowing that we will live in this area for a long time, raising our family. Your time will come too Mason when the planets and stars aline and fate bestows you the responsibility of owning a house. For now, you can always mow our grass and do the maintanence work around our house!

[random_vamp]

Yup, I've had that feeling for a while now. Sometime in the last decade the housing market has morphed so that in many areas even a very well paid single income household just can't afford to buy a place. I blame the feminist revolution making it possible to have households with two white collar incomes for my inability to buy a house ;)